Need CE, CEPTC, or PharmD credits?ITNSGet the credits you need on demand from ITNS. Watch videos of key sessions recorded at the Annual ITNS Symposium and complete an evaluation to earn up to 16.5 CE and CEPTC credits and up to 8 pharmacology credits. Sessions start at just $15 and can be purchased in bundles. Earn up to 16.5 credits! ITNS members receive a special discount! Visit the ITNS online store for more information and to place your order!

Like ITNS on Facebook! Visit the ITNS Facebook page for the latest ITNS and transplant news.

Save the Date to Celebrate Transplant Nurses Day! April 15, 2015ITNS
As appreciation of this important day grows, ITNS is committed to creating more opportunities for nurses to celebrate their contributions. In April 2006, ITNS created
Transplant Nurses Day to raise awareness of the unique contributions transplant nurses make in the lives of the people with whom they work, especially their patients. The celebration takes place the third Wednesday in April, this year 15 April, and recognizes the skill and commitment of transplant nurses around the world. Don't forget to share photos of your celebration on the ITNS Facebook page!

Share this article:

ITNS Call for NominationsITNSAre you devoted to the vision of ITNS? Do you have a desire to contribute to your association's development? Build your professional reputation and share your expertise by applying to join the ITNS Board of Directors in 2015. Leaders are responsible for guiding the association, anticipating change in the transplant environment and addressing the interests and needs of members.

If you are interested in applying for a leadership position and becoming a vital part in shaping the future of transplant nursing, review the information about becoming a candidate. The deadline to receive completed candidate applications is Monday, April 13, 2015 at 6 PM Eastern Standard Time (USA).

Share this article:

INDUSTRY NEWS

Congestive heart failure: When it's time to talk transplantU.S. News & World Report For many people with congestive heart failure, a wide assortment of medical, surgical and lifestyle treatments allows them to go on with their lives. Yet others are clearly on a steep decline. When patients can no longer stay out of the hospital or can barely function, experts say, they've reached the point when it's time to talk heart transplant.

Experiment aims to stop immunosuppression therapy for face transplant patientsBy Chelsea Adams The U.S. Military is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide face transplants and follow-up care for a small group of civilians who suffered traumatic injuries. Among the group is Charla Nash, a woman who was attacked by a chimpanzee in 2009, losing her eyes, hands and many of her facial features. The military paid for her face transplant in 2011 and is footing the bill for her follow-up care. Now, the military is funding an experiment to wean the 61-year-old Nash off the anti-rejection drugs she's been taking since the transplant was performed.

Innovative strategies needed to address the US transplant organ shortageMedical XpressAs the U.S. faces transplant waiting lists that continue to grow longer over time, there is increasing debate about the proper way to incentivize living donations. Transplant professionals are trying to find ways to eliminate any financial disincentives without crossing the line to paying for organs.

Nurses say lack of device interoperability contributes to medical errorsInfection Control TodayFor years, healthcare technology professionals and patient safety organizations have decried the lack of medical device interoperability in hospitals. Now, another voice, nursing, is echoing the call for better interoperability, saying a lack of sufficient progress on this front contributes significantly to medical errors.

Promoting nurse resilienceBy Keith CarlsonNurses face daily situations that can powerfully challenge their personal and professional resilience. Compromised nurse resilience is one factor that contributes to nurse burnout, compassion fatigue, absenteeism and, ultimately, attrition from the profession. Resilience is not a luxury for nurses, and the forward-thinking nurse manager will monitor the nurses under her charge for signs of weakening resilience.

Close patient-staff interactions drive MRSA transmissionFierceHealthcareClose-proximity interactions between patients and hospital staff drove transmission of Staphylococcus aureus in Berck-sur-Mer Hospital, a long-term care facility in France, according to a study published in PLOS Computational Biology. Researchers identified 173 transmission events over four months between 329 patients and 261 healthcare workers, with risk of transmission higher between healthcare workers and patients than from patient to patient. "S. aureus transmission was consistent with contacts defined by electronically collected CPIs, illustrating their potential as a tool to control hospital-acquired infections and help direct surveillance," the authors state.